“Sophisticated and uncrewed, the X-37B advances reusable spaceplane technologies and operates experiments in space that are returned for further examination on earth,” Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett said in a statement.

How many x-37B are there?

Six X-37B missions have launched to date. The U.S. Space Force has a mini-fleet of two robotic X-37B space planes, which have been flying secret missions since 2010. The most recent mission, called OTV-6, launched in May 2020 and is ongoing.

How is the X-37B launched?

Like the space shuttle, the solar-powered X-37B space plane launches vertically, with the aid of a rocket, and cruises back to Earth for a runway landing. The diminutive space plane is designed to operate at altitudes ranging from 110 to 500 miles (177 to 805 km).

How fast is the X 37B?

17,430 mph
Boeing X-37/Max speed

Is a space plane possible?

All spaceplanes to date have been rocket-powered but then landed as unpowered gliders. Three types of spaceplanes have successfully launched to orbit, reentered Earth’s atmosphere, and landed: the Space Shuttle, Buran, and the X-37. Many more spaceplanes have been proposed, but none have reached flight status.

Can jets fly in space?

Planes can and have flown into space for over 50 years – though not the kind you see at the airport. That’s because conventional planes need air for both propulsion and lift, and space is essentially a vacuum.

What is the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV)?

The Air Force version was designated the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV). The OTV program was built on earlier industry and government efforts by DARPA, NASA, and the Air Force under the leadership of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office in partnership with NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

When will the X-37B space plane launch OTV-6?

Update for May 15, 2020: The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B space plane will launch on its sixth mission, OTV-6, on Saturday (May 16) at 8:24 a.m. EDT (1224 GMT). Here’s how to watch it live! The U.S. Air Force’s unmanned X-37B space plane has flown four clandestine missions to date, carrying secret payloads on long-duration flights in Earth orbit.

What is the X-37B space plane program?

The X-37B program is now run by the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office, with mission control for orbital flights based at the 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado. The space planes are built by Boeing’s Phantom Works division.

What is the Air Force OTV program?

The Air Force OTV effort uses extensive contractor and government investments in the X-37 program by the Air Force, NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to continue full-scale development and on-orbit testing of a long-duration, reusable space vehicle.